correct me if i'm wrong, but i think it's fairly easy to figure out how much merit aid you have/will have by looking at law school numbers. merit aid at michigan is based on numbers (aside from those full scholarships that require essays).

roger8219 wrote:correct me if i'm wrong, but i think it's fairly easy to figure out how much merit aid you have/will have by looking at law school numbers. merit aid at michigan is based on numbers (aside from those full scholarships that require essays).

I really hope you're right, because I just got that wolverine access email too, and the Financial Aid Notice only shows federal loans. I was accepted last Wednesday. What was your source that Michigan's merit scholarships are based on numbers?

roger8219 wrote:correct me if i'm wrong, but i think it's fairly easy to figure out how much merit aid you have/will have by looking at law school numbers. merit aid at michigan is based on numbers (aside from those full scholarships that require essays).

I really hope you're right, because I just got that wolverine access email too, and the Financial Aid Notice only shows federal loans. I was accepted last Wednesday. What was your source that Michigan's merit scholarships are based on numbers?

Well I don't believe this is written down anywhere, but in practice, the dean's scholarships are very much like clockwork (within a given year). I would recommend looking at people on law school numbers who were admitted this year (and who put up scholarship info). Very, very good chance you will be considered for merit aid and receive the same amount.

Of course, you shouldn't be absolutely positive that you'll get merit aid from Michigan until you're officially notified, but bottom line, just because you've not seen the info pop up on Wolverine Access is no reason to be disheartened. I had been admitted for quite a bit longer than a week before I was notified about my Dean's Scholarship (even though I knew, with great confidence, the exact amount I would receive).

roger8219 wrote:correct me if i'm wrong, but i think it's fairly easy to figure out how much merit aid you have/will have by looking at law school numbers. merit aid at michigan is based on numbers (aside from those full scholarships that require essays).

I really hope you're right, because I just got that wolverine access email too, and the Financial Aid Notice only shows federal loans. I was accepted last Wednesday. What was your source that Michigan's merit scholarships are based on numbers?

Well I don't believe this is written down anywhere, but in practice, the dean's scholarships are very much like clockwork (within a given year). I would recommend looking at people on law school numbers who were admitted this year (and who put up scholarship info). Very, very good chance you will be considered for merit aid and receive the same amount.

Of course, you shouldn't be absolutely positive that you'll get merit aid from Michigan until you're officially notified, but bottom line, just because you've not seen the info pop up on Wolverine Access is no reason to be disheartened. I had been admitted for quite a bit longer than a week before I was notified about my Dean's Scholarship (even though I knew, with great confidence, the exact amount I would receive).

whatshouldIdo11 wrote:I really hope you're right, because I just got that wolverine access email too, and the Financial Aid Notice only shows federal loans. I was accepted last Wednesday. What was your source that Michigan's merit scholarships are based on numbers?

I was accepted on a Wednesday via ASW (packet showed up the next day), and my scholarship showed up on my page under Mail and Money a week and a half later on the Monday of the second week after I got in. HTH.

roger8219 wrote:Well I don't believe this is written down anywhere, but in practice, the dean's scholarships are very much like clockwork (within a given year). I would recommend looking at people on law school numbers who were admitted this year (and who put up scholarship info). Very, very good chance you will be considered for merit aid and receive the same amount.

Hah. I met her at the NY reception and told her her blog was 95% of my initial interest in Michigan. The other 5% was Admissions FAQ:

Now, we're all about visual aids, so below are a couple of fancy charts to illustrate our point that we admit people from lots of different institutions.

It is our impression that, perhaps due to some fundamental geographic confusion, many people imagine the weather in Ann Arbor to be much worse than it actually is. Protestations from us, however, end up sounding a bit pathetic.

The fact that they knew of people's love of fancy charts, and obsession with the coldness of Ann Arbor was a win for me =)

Well, it's not that I DON'T like Michigan/Dean Z, but I'm having trouble understanding why there seems to be somewhat more hype over Michigan than over comparable schools.

Since I'm currently struggling to decide between UMich and Duke, any opinions regarding UMich would be appreciated. I can see clear pros and cons to both.

Well it depends on what you are looking for in a school, but people (including me) seem to really like UM for a few reasons:

1. One of the nicest campuses in the country2. Ann Arbor is a really nice town with lots to do3. They tend not to be arrogant a-holes like a lot of places (see Chicago U)4. There is a very collegiate, communal feel with tons of sports, clubs, and organizations, which is pretty rare for a top law school.5. Obviously, academics are great as well.

Well, it's not that I DON'T like Michigan/Dean Z, but I'm having trouble understanding why there seems to be somewhat more hype over Michigan than over comparable schools.

Since I'm currently struggling to decide between UMich and Duke, any opinions regarding UMich would be appreciated. I can see clear pros and cons to both.

Well it depends on what you are looking for in a school, but people (including me) seem to really like UM for a few reasons:

1. One of the nicest campuses in the country2. Ann Arbor is a really nice town with lots to do3. They tend not to be arrogant a-holes like a lot of places (see Chicago U)4. There is a very collegiate, communal feel with tons of sports, clubs, and organizations, which is pretty rare for a top law school.5. Obviously, academics are great as well.

Duke is all of the above as well, minus #2. In fact, I think Duke is stronger in #4... at least, that's the vibe I get.

Well, it's not that I DON'T like Michigan/Dean Z, but I'm having trouble understanding why there seems to be somewhat more hype over Michigan than over comparable schools.

Since I'm currently struggling to decide between UMich and Duke, any opinions regarding UMich would be appreciated. I can see clear pros and cons to both.

Well it depends on what you are looking for in a school, but people (including me) seem to really like UM for a few reasons:

1. One of the nicest campuses in the country2. Ann Arbor is a really nice town with lots to do3. They tend not to be arrogant a-holes like a lot of places (see Chicago U)4. There is a very collegiate, communal feel with tons of sports, clubs, and organizations, which is pretty rare for a top law school.5. Obviously, academics are great as well.

Duke is all of the above as well, minus #2. In fact, I think Duke is stronger in #4... at least, that's the vibe I get.

I think this "Duke Law is the douchiest school" mantra is really kind of stupid.

I mean, after reading that article, the only message I got was:Which is douchier, Harvard or Duke Law? Harvard Law students are douchebags because they think they're smart on account of getting into Harvard. Duke Law students... well, they seem to be nicer than Duke undergrads, but because Tucker Max went there, they must all be the douchiest of douchebags like he is.

Really sound logic...

And not enough reason for me to choose Michigan over Duke (trying to bring the topic back to Mich since this IS the Mich thread, after all).

The feel I have is that Michigan is just a much nicer place to be, but again, that's a personal thing. Academically, UM is slightly ahead though probably not enough to drive your decision. Both are good choices!

Edit: Also, to answer the question, I think one of the things you should look at is the markets that each provides better access to. If you think you might want to work in the South, Duke might be a better option while UM would be better for Chicago and the Midwest and maybe California. If you have ties to one of those regions, the school in the other can also give you more geographic mobility.